A few days ago, I wrote about places being renamed. Being part American Indian and growing up in Oklahoma, I was familiar with lots places named after Indian words. Some people think the Indians gave us corn \u2014 and not much else. But they\u2019ve added many words to our language. Moose, raccoon, opossum, chipmunk, hickory, muskrat, wigwam, wampum, toboggan, totem, saw, mackinaw, moccasin, papoose and tomahawk are Indian words. And \u2014 many American places have been named after Indian words\u2026. Mississippi is \u201cthe father of waters,\u201d Lake Winnepesaukee is \u201cthe smile of the great spirit.\u201d In fact, about half of the states got their names from Indian words. Connecticut\u2019s name comes from the Mohican word Quinnehtukqut which means \u201cbeside the long tidal river,\u201d and the name of Kentucky comes from an Iroquoian word \u2014 Kentahten, which means \u201cland of tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For American Indians, place names always tell something about the location \u2014 they aim to express the essence of the place, or its dominating characteristic or idea. When Europeans began to settle on the continent and early pioneers explored, they often gave places new names commemorating the \u201cFounding Fathers\u201d and other important Americans. That\u2019s the reason for the popularity of cities, towns and counties called Washington, Jefferson, Madison, etc. And a lot of towns, like Johnstown, Carterville and Martinsburg are named for prominent local citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I mentioned in a previous blog on this subject, Indians have viewed this practice as inappropriate, believing that humans are too small, too fleeting and insignificant to have places named for them. The land is eternal \u2014 it owns us, we do not own it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as I said, lots of our states have gotten their named from Indian words, like\u2026.
Alabama \u2014 comes from Choctaw meaning \u201cthicket-clearers\u201d or \u201cvegetation-gatherers\u201d\u00a0
Arizona \u2014 from the Indian \u201cArizonac,\u201d meaning \u201clittle spring\u201d or \u201cyoung spring.\u201d
Illinois \u2014Algonquin for \u201ctribe of superior men.\u201d
Indiana \u2014 means \u201cland of Indians.\u201d
Texas \u2014 from an Indian word meaning \u201cfriends.\u201d
Oklahoma \u2014 from two Choctaw Indian words meaning \u201cred people.\u201d
Utah \u2014 from the Ute tried, meaning \u201cpeople of the mountains.\u201d
Ohio \u2014from an Iroquoian word meaning \u201cgreat river.\u201d
Wyoming \u2014 from the Delaware Indian word, meaning \u201cmountains and valleys alternating.\u201d
Missouri \u2014 named after the Missouri Indian tribe. It means \u201ctown of the large canoes.\u201d
Nebraska \u2014 from an Oto Indian word meaning \u201cflat water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indian words also were used to name a lot cities\u2026. Roanoke in Virginia is Algonquian for \u201cshell money.\u201d Indian tribes often used shells that were made into beads called wampum as money. Pensacola in Florida is Choctaw for \u201chair\u201d and \u201cPeople.\u201d\u00a0 Niagara (the falls) is named after an Iroquoian town, \u201cOngiaahra.\u201d And Manhattan in New York is Algonquian in origin and believed to mean \u201cisolated thing in water.\u201d\u00a0
And one of my favorite words is Podunk \u2014 I always used it to describe some insignificant town out in the middle of nowhere \u2014 its name comes from a Natick Indian word meaning \u201cswampy place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I think a pretty good argument can be made for the Indians naming scheme being better and more thoughtful than the one generally used today \u2014 especially natural wonders. Crazy Horse once said, \u201cOne does not sell the earth upon which the people walk.\u201d I think I like that\u2026..
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A few days ago, I wrote about places being renamed. Being part American Indian and growing up in Oklahoma, I was familiar with lots places named after Indian words. Some people think the Indians gave us corn \u2014 and not … Continue reading